Apr. 1, 2013

Jill Rose says women can use technology to their advantage. / Cindy Hosea/staff

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Photographed by Cindy Hosea

Stephanie Kreitman uses apps to organize her work and home responsibilities. / Cindy Hosea/staff

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Stephanie Kreitman lives in a high-tech world, but she sets the rules.

As the mom of two boys, ages 6 and 9, and a senior project manager at Sealed Air Corp., Kreitman has learned to make technology work for her, finding a balance between utilizing tech as a tool and having it run her life.

“It actually has been easier since I got a smart phone,” Kreitman says. “I can look at an email at 6 a.m. while I make lunches and not walk into work and be surprised that something has blown up overnight.”

A Bluetooth device, which allows for hands-free calling, has helped Kreitman turn her commute into productive time.

“I can have a conference call on the way home,” she says. “I am a strict believer that you shouldn’t text while driving, so I don’t pull my phone out.”

Kreitman maintains a balance that keeps round-the-clock access to information from taking over her family life. She tries to maintain a rule of not checking her phone after 9 p.m. and she charges it on a different level of the house than her bedroom, so the temptation to check email is taken away.

Jill Rose leads Upstate Women in Technology, a networking group that meets monthly. She says maintaining a healthy tech-life balance is important for everyone, but women can especially use it to their advantage.

“Women in particular are managing our business life and most of us are managing our home life,” Rose says. “Technology has been great to be connected with work, your kids’ schools, your friends and family. You can text your friends, you can email your child’s teacher — all from your phone. You can do online banking on your lunch break. We have a diverse group of responsibilities. The downside is that you are always connected. You have to make boundaries for yourself.”

Rose says women can employ some simple steps to take charge of technology. She suggests setting a time after which email will not be checked and limiting “connected” time when on vacation. And Rose stresses that conducting business and personal relationships in person should not be a thing of the past.

Some issues should be reserved for real discussion, not an exchange of texts or emails.

“I say, maybe that conversation needs to be in person or on the phone,” Rose says. “I still believe that verbal is best. It is a personal choice you make.”

Kreitman says synching her work and family calendars using Google calendar has helped her avoid scheduling conflicts. Now, if a child needs a doctor’s appointment, she can check her work calendar from her phone and schedule accordingly. She also uses apps to make life easier and more efficient. One of her favorites is an app offered by her health insurance provider to track deductibles and more. Other well-used apps on her phone include an instant messaging program and a notepad that serves as a virtual stack of sticky notes.

“I am one of those people who keeps Post-its all over my desk,” Kreitman says.

Now, her to-do list is instantly updated and she keeps a running list for her next jaunt to Target or Sam’s Club.

Rose said the customization offered by the wide variety of applications on the market allows smart phone and tablet users to have concise, user-friendly methods for making many aspects of life more productive.

“It saves a lot of time and a lot of effort to have everything in one place,” Rose says.

And Kreitman readily admits to having a few apps for the kids as well.

“They probably know how to use the phone better than I do sometimes,” she says.